Automatic marking machine



May 1 1923. 1,453,985

E. G. MEYERS AUTOMAT IC MARKING MACHINE Filed May 51, 192] 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor:

( 7 j Hiiorney May 1, 1923. 1,453,985

E. G. MEYERS AUTOMATIC MARKING MACHINE 7 Filed May' 31 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 128 12 1x2 1M 4 25 1Z9 1:; 22 11a 11111611 for.

Ma 1, 1923. 1,453,985 v E. c. MEYERS AUTOMATIC MARKING MACH INE Filed May 31, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Fiy. 4 61 A fig-r1104 Inveufor:

May 1, 1923. 1,453,985

E. G. M EYERS AUTOMATIC MARKING MACHINE A1 iortze y Patented May 1, 1923.

a st r EDWARD e. MEYERS, or CINCINNATI, 01110.

AUTOMATIC MARKI G MACHINE.

Application filed m 31, 1921. seriaiN-o. 473,639.

ing machines, and more particularly to those employed for making imprints on fabrics and other materials by the use of inks, such as those containing silver nitrate and afterwards made visible by the action of a fixing member embodied within the machine.

The inks have for'their main constituent silver nitrate, and are liquids, soluble in water. The silver nitrate however, can be reduced to finely divided metallic silver, and thus made visible by the action of heat or high intensity light waves. The inks in this form are very dark in appearance and insoluble in ordinary fluids. The paper, fabric, wood or other material which it is desired to mark isherein referred to as the material.

My improved marking machine is not limited to the use of silver nitrate inks only, but is readily adapted for marking with slow drying inks, the fixing member being utilized to rapidly dry the impression made. I have however herein described the operation of my invention in connection with silver nitrate inks although any other ink may be used.

One of the objects of my invention is the imprinting and insoluble fixing on, and into fabric, paper, wood and other materials, trade marks, designs and marks of ownership and identification, or such other markings as may be desired.

Another object of my invention is to pro- -vide a means whereby the imprints are rapidly and automatically made and driven into the material by means of a fixing element, utilizing heat.

Another object is to regulate the quantity of marking ink used in marking the imprint and thereby controlling the depth of penetration for varying thicknesses and qualities of material.

Another object is to regulate the length of application of the fixing member employed in driving into and indelibly fixing the impression made on the material, and also to control the degreeofheat employed therefor.

A further object is to avoid injury to material by the printing die and the fixi member and to the die and fixing'member, themselves. I

My invention consists in the provision of a machine embodying mechanism for auto:

inatically imprinting on various material. I

suitable designs or other markings by the use of ink, and further. in. mechanism for treating the impression made so asto prevent its subsequent eradication.

My inventionfurther consists in the mechanism embodying an automaticallyactuated die corresponding to the markings desired and in the means for conveying the ink there-f to and also'in the mechanismby which the duration of contact of the die with the mate,

rial isvaried whereby the penetration of the, ink is controlled. Y Y

My invention further consists in an automatically actuated fixing element, for reducing the ink in the impression made to a compound insoluble in ordinary fluids; and also in the means for varying theduration of contact of the fixing element with the impression." My invention furtherconsists in a yielding support for the material, so as to avoid injury to the material and also tothe die and fixing element. I

a My invention further consists in'the parts and combination and arrangement thereof as herein described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of my improved machine.v I

Fig. 2 1s a. simllar v1ew of the motor and driving mechanism for my improved machine.

machine, with the frame partly broken away,

F ig. 3 is a side elevation of my improved and in section on the line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same with the upper part of the frame partly broken Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig.

- In my improved marking machine, the

material to be marked is first placed on a support 20, yieldably mounted in a part of a main frame 21 in a manner hereafter more particularly described.

A suitable die 22 having raised imprinting project-ions thereon is caused to automatically contact aninking pad 23 of fibrous materials suchas felt and then automatically brought into contact with the material placed on the support. The die has beveled edges 24, which coact with dovetails 25 of a die carrier 26. In this way the die is releasably secured to the carrier. I prefer to actuate the die in such a manner as to have its imprinting face turned upward when in contact with the inking pad, and turned downward when in contact with the material. .To accomplish this the die is caused to have both a rotary and vertical movement. To this end a drive shaft 30 is journaled in a permanent bearing 31 in the main frame and a removable bearing 32 held in a bore 33 of'the main frame by a set screw 84:. A grooved drivingpulley 36 is journaled about a reduced end 37 of the drive shaft, and is held against -lateral movement as by being received between a shoulder 38, and a washer 39 clamped against a'second shoulder d0 by a locknut 41 The pulley is made to act as a fly wheel by forming the rim 42- of relatively heavy crosssection.

The pulley is constantly driven by a motor 4-5 the motor shaft 46 of which is QX-- tended, and journaled in bearing 47 of a reduction gear casing d8. The reduction gear comprises a worm secured to the rotor shaft, and meshing with a wormwheel 50 on a shaft51 journaled in bearings 52 of the reduction gear'casing. A grooved pulley 53 is secured to the shaft 51 outside of the casing and has a belt 54 passing thereabout and also about the grooved driving;

pulley 36. In this manner the driving pul leyis caused to rotate at a relatively low speed.

The main frame is preferably so proportioned as to admit of its being placed on a bench in such manner as to bring the material support to a properworking height. I have herein however, illustrated my improved machine mounted on a pedestal to which the main frame is secured by bolts 61. The pedestal has a flaring base 62 whereby greater stability is secured. The upper end of the pedestal has a bracket 63 integrally formed therewith to which the reducing gear casing is secured by bolts 64b. The reduction gear casing has a bracket fixed thereon to which the motor is secured by bolts 65.

The drive shaft 30 is adapted to either receive constant rotation or a single revolution at the will of the operator. Thus 68 is a single revolution clutch and comprises a hub 69 movable endwise on the shaft 30 between the bearing 31 and the driving pulley 36. A key "('0 in the shaft coacts with a keyway 71 on the hub to hold the same against relative rotation on the shaft. v The hub further has pins T2 secured therein on the side facing the pulley. Pins 73 are firmly secured in the driving pulley adapted to coact with the pins7 2. The hub 69 is normally urged toward the pulley by a spring M, which compels the pins 72300 engage the pins 73, whereby rotary motion is imparted to the drive shaft.

Means is provided to enable the operator to cause the shaft to rotate but one revolution at a time. Thus a plunger 76 has vertical movement a bearing 77 secured to main frame. and also in a bearing 78 on the pedestal. T heplunger is urged towards the periphery, 79 of the hub 69 by a spring 80 received between the bearing 7?. and a collar 81 secured to the plunger by a pin 82. The end of the plunger is adapted to coact with a groove 85 having a cam surface 86 extending in the direction of the drivingpulley. A treadle 8'7 pivoted on a screw 88 has connection with the plunger as by a connecting rod 89, having articulations 90 with the plunger, and articulations 91 with the treadle. The treadle has a step 92 at its outer end adapted to receive the foot of the operator. The driving pulley 36 is driven in the direction the arrow a. (See Fig. 1.) When the operator places his foot on the treadl and forces it downward, the plunger 76 is withdrawn from the groove 85, thereby permitting the spring '74 to urge the hub 69 towards the driving pulley. The pins 72 will then make contact with the pin 73 on the driving pulley and thereby rotate the drive shaft. While this 'is being accomplished the end of the plunger 76 is riding on the periphery 79 of the hub. Toward the final part of one revolution, the plunger 76 enters the groove 85, the cam surfaces coacting therewith to draw the hub away from the pulley, disengaging the pins 7 2 and 73, and thereby stopping rotation of the drive shaft.

A cam 95 for actuating the die has a hub 96 thereon, which has a bore 97 therein through which the drive shaft passes. A key 98 in the shaft provides driving connection for the cam as by being received in a key- 7 vertical movement in a hole 106 of a lug 107 on the main frame. A roller 108 is adapted to coact with the periphery of the cam '95 and is journaled on a stud 109 having threaded connection'llO with the follower. The roller 108 is preferably held against endwise movement as by being received in a slot 111 of the follower. A connecting rod 115 is secured to the follower as by threaded connection 116 held in place by lock-nut 117. The connecting rod has endwise movement in a bearing 118 of themain frame. The follower is held against rotary movement, as by set screw 119 threaded into the bearing 118 the end of which enters a keyway 120 of the connecting rod. The follower is urged toward the cam as by having a spring 121 received between the bearing 118 and an adjusting collar 122 held in adjusted position by a set screw 123. The upper end of the connecting rod has a'knuckle 124 secured thereto which has articulation by a pin 125 to a rockable lever 126. The rock able lever has one end thereof journaled about a pin 127 held in place by cotter pins 128 in a lug 129. The other end of the .rockable lever has a .cross shaft 132 received in a hole 133.

' die carrier and is held in place by a bear- The die carrier 26 is guided laterally by guides 136 forming part of a die head 137 and is also rockable about a shaft 135. The shaft is journaled in a bearing 138 of the ing cap 139 secured by bolts 140. The shaft has vertical movement in guide slots 142 in the side guides 136. ldollers 141 journaled about the shaft aid its easy movement in the slots. The shaft projects beyond the slots and has reduced ends 143 about which the ends of links 144 are received. The links are held in place as by having a washer 145 and the lock-nut 146 received over the threaded portion 147 of the reduced ends. The other ends of the links are received about reduced ends 150 of the cross shaft 132 and are held in place by locknuts 151 having threaded connections 152 thereon. The links are spaced from the rockable lever 126 as by sleeves 153 received about the cross shaft. the shaft 135 by the roller 108 entering the depression 102 of the cam 95 on the drive shaft under pressure exerted by the spring 121. Through the medium of the connecting rod 115, rocking motion is imparted to For - retaining finger 160.

Vertical. movement is imparted to the rockable lever IZGJWhlClI in turn parts vertical movement'to the shaftby the links 144. v V

Means is provided whereby the die carrier 26 with the die thereon is given a-rocking movement to the extent of a half revolution,

as well as the vertical movement previously described. Thusdepending flanges 155 are 1 formed on the ends of the 'die carrler and bear againstthe guides 136. A heart shaped cam 156 is'formed on each of the depending flanges and has'camlsurfaces 157 and 158 thereon. Converging retaining fingers 159 and 160 form ca'm'slots 161 and 162 to either side of the-cam 156 respectively. The cam slots 161, cam surfaces 157 andlthe retain ing fingers 159 are adapted to coact with pins 163 secured in the guides 136. The cam surface 158, retainlng-fingers 160 and the cam slots 162 are adapted to coact with av second pin 164 secured to the guides .136 directly below the pin 163.

When vertical movement is imparted'to the shaft 135 andthe die carrier, the pin 163 contacts the upper end of slot 161. Fun. ther downward movement of the shaft135 rocks the die carrier about the pin-163, the.

bottom of the slot acting asthe fulcrum and the retaining finger 159 holding the."

parts in engaged relation. This part of the movement causes the cam 156 towenter the space between, thepins 163. and 164, i

and also forces the cam surface 158'into-contact with the pin 164 in such manner as to guide thesame into the slot .162. Further movement causes the bottomof, the'slot 162 to contact the pin 164 which is held by the I At this stage of the movement the die carrier ceases torotate about the pin 163 and starts to. rotate about the pin 164. Upon further movement-of the shaft in a downward direction, the pin 164 acts as the center of rotation and com-.

pletes the half revolution of the die carrler.

The printing face of the dieis now turned down immediately over the material, a slight further movement is necessary to cause the impression to be made after which theaction described again takes place but in reverse order to returnlthe die into contact with the ink pad. a

The die head 137 is preferably formed integrally with the mainframe of the machine, as by being connected thereto by an overhanging neck 170. r

Means are provided wherebythe ink pad is held and ink conducted thereto. n Thus an ink distributing plate 171 is held in place to form the bottom of ink reservoir 172 by screws 173. The ink pad 23 is removablyheld'by retaining lips 174 formed :onthe plate 171. The ink isadapted to be fed from" containers 175 havingremovablefiller caps 176. The containers are secured in theup-* per wall of the. reservoir asby threaded tu-:.

surface of the inking pad. In this manner the ink is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the pad to seep it thoroughly saturated therewith.

To compel the follower 105 and the roller 108 to closely follow the surface of the cam when it enters the depression 102 a rotatable retaining earn 186 in The retaining;

tegrally formed t'zerewith. cam has down 1 concentric surf.

closely conformed to the path of the roller 1.08. The plate has a hub 190, having a .bore 191. therein through which the drive shaft30 passes. The plate has driving connections by means of a key 192 secured in the shaft and coacting with a lreyway 193 in the hub. A set screw 194 aded into the hub holds the plate against lateral movement. A. second roller 1% is journaled about the stud 109 and is held between the head 196 thereof and outer surface of the follower. The roller 195 is thus made to act in conjunction with the roller 108 and follow the surfaces 187 and 189 to effectively hold the follower to the path of travel. in the depression 102 of the cam 95. The motion of the die carrier is thus prevented from being irr 'ular and insures the making of a perfect I impression.

For fixing the impression made by the die on the material, I prefer to employ a. fixing member utilizing the properties of heat. Thus the fixing member comprises a heater head 200 having; an impression contact face 201. An electrical r sistance member 202 is received within the head and has connection by a flexible conductor 203 with a current controlling rlicostat 204- operable by a lever 205. An electrical conouctor 206 is adapted to convey current to the rheostat.

The firing member is so actuated as to have the face 201 thereon contact the material during the interval when the die carrier is held in the raised position. Therefore a pairof arms 210 are formed on the heater head 200. which are integrally connected to a hub 211, in which a root shaft 212 is secured. The shaft 212 is journaled in bearings 213 in the main frame and is held. against endwise movement by cotter pins 213'.

The hub 211 further has an 214 integrally formed therewith. having a fork 215 at its outer end. A roller 216 is received tween the tangzs of the fork 215 and is journaled on a pin 21.7. The roller is adapted to coact with a cam 220 so formed to actuate the fixing; member while the die carrier is stationary at the upper part of the lie head. The cam has a high concentric ortion 221 downwardly sloping, portion 22, l w concentric portion 223 and upsh wing portion 224 whichform a deprcssi-o 225. which the roller 216 is adapt--- ed to enter. The cam has ahub 226 thereon having a bore 227 through which the drive 30 passes. Driving connection. is had with the shaft as by a key 228 therein coacting with a lzeyway in the hub. A set screw 230 threaded into the hub contacts the drive shaft and holds the cam in posi .1; 210 has an extension 2 1 on ..ch cr\\"eight 232 is adjustaoly held in posit on by a set screw 233. The we ght of the counts. lanced and at the same llll'l'le pressure exerted thereby is regulated.

To avoid injury to the die and fixing; member and their actuatingmechanisms l prefer to construct the material support 20 in such manner as to permit aslight yieldthereof. the support comprises a stem 236 integrally The stem has vertical 237 in the table 238 in Nor-3 r1,

teg rally connected to the mainframe by a in O V b The lower end of the bore is threaded as shown at 240 to receive a screw plug 241. A. spring 242 is received between the stem and'the screw plugand provides means whereby the platen is supported. The

platen is held against rotary movement as by the end 243 of a set screw 244 coacting with lreyway 245 in the stem and threaded into the table. 7

platen is adapted to be readily removable for replacement by variously shaped an (1 other sizes thereof. Therefore a portion of the bore 23? is formed by a removable block 250 held a slot 251 by a tie rod 252 passing through holes 253 in the table, and a hole 254 in the block. The tie rod has a 55 and a threaded end 256 about which a thumb nut 257 is received. The thus adapted to be clamped in the s ot b up on the thumb nut,

i .ient elasticity in the porto eithe. side of the slot 11 sine; action to take place.

the cl sure by which the impression is made, also various thicknesses of material. are thus autonis Ially taken care of.

In operation tr. material to be marked is placed on the platen 235. V The operator depresses the treadle 87 which permits engagement of the clutch 68 with the driving pulley thereby rotating the drive shaft 30. The cams 35, 186, and 220 are so mounted on the drive in relation to one another as to actuate either the die carrier or the fixing member when the other is held stationary at its upper limit of travel. When men her is thus.

rotation is imparted to the drive shaft the die is drawn'out of contact with the inking pad 23 and in the course of its downward movement. is turned over, after which it is forced into contact with the upper surface of the material, thus forming an imprint thereon. The face of the die immediately;

withdrawn from the material and etu ned .to its position in contact with theinking pad in the upper part ofthe die head. After the impression has been made, the fixing member is brought down into contact with the material to fix the impression made. The

cam 220 actuates the fixing member through the medium of the roller 216, fork 15, hub

211 and arms 210. The roller enters the depression 225, the low concentric portion 223 of which determines the duration of contact of the heated surface 201 with the maerial. For goods of average weight the length of contact is usually five seconds, After the contact is made and theimpres sion fixed and driven into the material the cam 22Q returns the heater'head to its up-r per position in the neck .170. The material is then ready to be removed from the support and the operation indefinitely repeated on succeeding pieces of material. It has been found by experience that the drive shaft should rotate at such speed as'will complete one cycle of operation of the machine in ten abled to be withdrawn by removing the bearing 32 by loosening set screw 34. The

shaft may then be withdrawn after the driving pulley has been removed therefrom and the set screws in the hubs of the cams loosened. Other cams may be in this way substitutedfor the one illustrated. In similar I manner other cams having longer or shorter.

depressions may be substituted for the cam 95. for actuating the die carrier. and thus regulate the length of time th at the die is in contact with the material, which. in turn governs the depth of penetration of the ink.

If the material to be marked is of such a nature and size as to enable the operator to place the same on the yieldable support with sufiicient rapidity, the treadle may be held in a depressed position, thus giving a con stant rotation to drive shaft and actuating the die carrier and the fixing member alternately, in a continuous manner.

by Letters Patent'is:

My improved 'niar'king machine forms a rapid and automatic ineans tor insolubly'f .niarking various materlals" with. no inyury thereto or to the mechan sm of the machine.-

secure What I claim as new and desire't o 1. in a marking machine, a yieldabl'e support adapted. to hold material 'towbe marked, a reciprocating marking means whereby markings are made on the material by asingleoperation, an inking. means for said marking means and firing means for instantly indelibly fixing the niark ings made by said marking means, substantially set forth and for the purposes specified.-

2; In t a' marking machine; a. yieldable support adapted to" hold material to bem rked, an automatically-actuateddie whereby markings are made on said"mat'erial, anfi inking means for: said die and an; automatically actuated fixing member for instantly driving into and indelibly fixing;

the impression in the material made by'said' die, substantially as set forth and for purposes specified. I

3'. In a marking machine, a frame, ,a. bracket on said frame, a yieldable support mounted on said frame below saidbracket,

a fixed extension on said frame,- a"verti-- cally movable die; head on'sald extension, a

die fixed in said head and adapted to move vertically, inking means. in said-head for said'die' and mounted above said die, said frame having 'a'throat forinedbetween said;-

bracket and" said extension, a pivotally mounted fixing member in sald extension adapted to be actuated after the operation of said die, actuatingmeans for said die and;

said fixing member whereby one of the said; members'is adapted to move'into inoperative position and the other into -operative position .bo'th simiiltaneously '.and driving,

means-for said actuating means, substan tially as setziorthand iOI lihG purposes a 4. In. a marking machine; a die, inkingmeans,,-heating means, a yieldable support comprising a platen, a'stem' formed on said platen, a table v a'bore' in'said table in which.

said stem is received, a sorew plugin .the other end of SPlId'lOOIG, a spring received in said bore between said screw plug' and" said stem, a slotradial tosaid bore,fa block received in said slot having-a surface thereon to "form a continuat on of the walls of said bore, a tie rod for clamping said 'blOCk in said slot, a keyway in said stem, and.a screw in said table adapted to coact' with" said keyway, whereby saidplaten and stem is held against rotary movement.

5. In a marking machine, a yieldable support, an automatically actuated die, a heat mg means, an inking means for :said die comprising a reservoir, a perforated plate forming the lower'wall of said reser oir,- a

marked, a die whereby imprints are pad secured below said plate, a container, a connection between said container and said reservoir, regulating means in said connection and distributing means forming connection between said plate and said pad.

6 In a marking machine, a frame, a yieldable support thereon adapted to hold material to be marked, adie, a earrien therefor, guides in said frame for said carrier, aninking pad for inking said die, and actuating means whereby said die is first caused to contact said ink pad and afterwarls to contact the material on said yieldable support and'comprising a drive shaft, bearings in said frame for said shaft. a cam releasab y mounted on said shaft, said cam having a depression therein, a'follower, a-bearinp; in said frame for said follower, a roller'rotatably mounted in said follower, a rockable lever, a connecting rod connecting said rockable lever and said follower, a bearing for said rod, an adjustable collar on said rod, a spring about saidrod received between said last named bearing and said adjustable collar whereby said follower is urged towards said cam, said rockable lever having one end pivotedto said frame, a cross shaft secured to the other end of said rockable lever, a shaft about which said die carrier is iournaled, slots in which said shaft has vertical movement, links connecting said last named shaft to said cross shaft, guides for said carrier in said frame, flanges onsaid diecarrier, cams on said flanges, re taining fingers to either side of said cams, said cams and fingers having cam slots therebetween, pins in said guides adapted to coact with said cam slots on one side of said cams to form a temporary center of rotation'for said die carrier, additional pins 1n said guides adapted to coast wlth said cam slots on the other side of said cams to form a second temporary center of. rotation for said. carrier.

7. in a marking machine, a yieldable support, an automatically actuated die, a heating means, an inking means for said die com-- prising; a reservoir, a plate forming the low er wall of said reservoir, a pad secured be low said plate, a container, tubular. connection between said container and said reservoir, regulating means in said tubular connection, distributing grooves-in said plate, and apertures in said plate forming connection between said distributing grooves and said pad,

8. In a marking machine, a frame, a sup port thereon adapted to hold material to be made on the material held on said support, inking means for said die, a fixing member, means embodied in said fixing member whereby the impression made by said die is caused to alter chemically, and actuating means for said fixing member comprising arms on said fixing member, a hub on said arms, a rockable shaft secured in said hub, bearings in said frame for said shaft, a cam, a follower on said hub adapted to coact with said earn, an extension on one of said arms, a counterweight adjustably secured on said extension whereby said follower is held in contact with said cam, a drive shaft to which said cam is releasably secured, bearings for said shaft in said frame, and means for driving said shaft.

9. in a marking machine, a frame, a yieldable support mounted in said frame, a die head on said frame, a die operative in said head adapted to make impressions, means for inking said die, a fixing member for fixing impressions made by said die, means for actuating said die and said fixing member,

comprising a plurality of cams, followers coacting with said cams, and mechanical connections between said die and fixing member and said followers, a drive shaft on which said cams are 'releasably mounted, a loose pulley journaled on said shaft, a clutch between said pulley and said shaft, comprising a hub endwise slidable on said shaft, pins in said hub, pins in said pulley, said last named pins adapted to contact said first named pins when said en'dwise slidable hub is moved towards said. pulley, a spring between said frame and said hub, whereby said hub is urged toward said pulley, a plunger, bearings in said frame for said plunger, a spring about said plunger, whereby the same is urged toward said hub, a groove in said hub, a cam surface in said groove whereby said pins on said hub is selectively held out of engagement with said pins on said pulley, a treadle and a connecting rod .ietween said treadle and said plunger.

10. in a marking machine, a support adapted to hold material to be marked, a die whereby markingsare made on the material, inking means for said die, an automatically actuated fixing member for driving into and indelibly fixing the impression into the material made by said die and means for automatically governing the length of time of the application of the fixing member to the marking.

EDWARD e. Mavens.

adapted to engage said plunger, 

